Setback for the Euro Zone

Juergen Stark, a top official at the European Central Bank, stepped down Friday, with news reports tying the move to disagreements over the bank’s bond-buying program. Stark was widely reported to be opposed to the resumption of bond purchases last month. Stark quit due to a conflict over the bond program.

Mr. Stark is the second prominent German this year to leave the bank’s policy-making governing council, a broader panel consisting of the executive board and the heads of the central banks of the 17 euro countries. Axel Weber, who was president of the German Bundesbank, announced his resignation from that post in February, which resulted in his leaving the central bank council.